Click here to send us Questions or Comments
Copyright �
1997-2004
High Top Media
All Rights Reserved.
Beginning with Constantine the Great the social policy of the Roman government, at least when in the charge of orthodox emperors, was the elimination of paganism and the bringing about of unity in Byzantine Christianity, based upon a common core of fundamental orthodox beliefs, thereby furthering the stability of the Roman state. In Bagatti�s words:
In the 4th century, when Christianity had already won the victory over paganism, there was a reorganisation of the church for unitarian purposes. The Jewish usages and doctrines, unknown in great part to the Christian world, in some regions were looked upon as causes of division among the faithful and were therefore fiercely opposed. Bishops and savants united their efforts on this programme and they acted through the councils. (Bagatti 1971a:86.)
The decisions made in the fourth century orthodox Church Councils and the de facto invasion of Judea by the orthodox�seeking Holy Sites to build churches, establish monuments, find artifacts and relics, to be closer to the land where Jesus dwelt, and to bring about the unity of the faith�unavoidably led to cultural conflict between the orthodox and Judeo-Christians. The orthodox used the power of the Roman state to strip Judeo-Christians of their churches and to criminalize their observance of the Sabbath, annual Sabbaths, and the Nisan 14 Christian Passover.
Table 1, below, provides a chronology of salient events from the beginning of the fourth century to the 381 seizure of the Judeo-Christian synagogue on Sion by the Byzantines pursuant to an decree by Theodosius I. These catastrophes were of such magnitude for Judeo-Christianity that it did not recover. In later centuries only a remnant of its people occasionally appeared here and there within the territory of the Great Universal Church that saw itself as catholic and apostolic.
|
|
|
303 |
Eusebius writes his Proof of the
Gospel (Demonstratio Evangelica) |
|
311 |
On April 30 Emperor Galerius issues edict of tolerance toward Christians, known as the Edict of Milan, reinstating their privileges "as long as they do not interfere with public order" |
|
314 |
Macarius becomes Bishop of Jerusalem |
|
ca. 313 |
Eusebius becomes Bishop of Caesarea |
|
324 |
Constantine by defeating Licinius becomes master of the East |
|
325 |
Greco-Roman bishops meet in the
First Council of Nicea, with no Judeo-Christian bishops present, and
adopt anti-Judaic legislation to eliminate nonconformity in Greco-Roman
orthodoxy |
|
326 |
Temple of Jupiter and the Venus
shrine razed in Aliea Capitolina and search made for Tomb of Jesus
beneath the Temple of Jupiter. |
|
327 |
Death of dowager empress Helena Augusta |
|
330 |
Constantinople founded |
| 331 |
Julian born into a Christian family |
|
333 |
Pilgrim from Bordeaux visits
Jerusalem |
|
335 |
Council of Jerusalem and dedication of buildings on Golgotha where Eusebius raises the authenticity matter in his remarks pressing Constantine to reveal his logic in identifying the holy sepulcher |
|
337 |
Death of Constantine (baptized on his deathbed) |
| 337-361 |
Reign of Constantius II |
|
ca. 340 |
Death of Eusebius |
|
sometime between 343�381 |
Council of Laodicea meeting at Laodicea in Phrygia Pacatiana adopts 29th cannon banning the keeping of the Jewish Sabbath by any Greco-Roman Christian within their sees |
|
347�348 |
Cyril of Jerusalem (still a
presbyter) gives Catachetical Lectures wherein he refers to the
Upper Church of Sion |
|
350 |
Gentiles overwhelmingly dominate Christianity as they make up over 50% of all Christians and 50% of the population of the Roman empire |
|
ca. 351 |
Cyril becomes Bishop of Jerusalem |
| 361-363 |
Reign of Julian "the apostate" |
|
362 |
The Emperor Julian issues two letters to the community of the Jews and authorizes them to rebuild the Jewish Temple with Alypius overseeing the construction, eliminates special levees on the Jews, and removes restrictions on their access to Aelia Capitolina (Jerusalem). |
| 363--364 |
Emperor Jovian restores Christianity |
| 364 |
Roman empire again divided into East and West |
|
364�378 |
Valentinian and Valen (Arian emperors) persecute those who hold the Nicene doctrine |
|
372 |
First visit of Jerome to the Levant |
|
374 |
Epiphanius of Salamis in his Ancorarus omits Sion in his enumeration of the holy sites of the Passion |
|
ca. 376 |
Epiphanius in his Panarion makes it clear that Judeo-Christians are not Christians |
|
378 |
Optatus of Mileve noted the absence of any synagogue of the Jews on Sion |
|
379 |
Theodosius
I made emperor in the East by Gratian |
| 379-395 |
Reign of Theodosius |
|
381�384 |
Egeria visits Palestine and Egypt |
|
381 |
First
Council of Constantinople and Decree by Theodosius I |
Page last updated: 12/13/04 07:22 PM.
|
starting web/internet resource by the
